US8710382B2 - Keypad assembly for electronic devices - Google Patents

Keypad assembly for electronic devices Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US8710382B2
US8710382B2 US13/223,274 US201113223274A US8710382B2 US 8710382 B2 US8710382 B2 US 8710382B2 US 201113223274 A US201113223274 A US 201113223274A US 8710382 B2 US8710382 B2 US 8710382B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
shading
keypad
keypad assembly
sheet
board
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related, expires
Application number
US13/223,274
Other versions
US20120318655A1 (en
Inventor
Xian-Wu Huang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co Ltd
FIH Hong Kong Ltd
Original Assignee
Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co Ltd
FIH Hong Kong Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co Ltd, FIH Hong Kong Ltd filed Critical Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co Ltd
Assigned to FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED, SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. reassignment FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HUANG, XIAN-WU
Publication of US20120318655A1 publication Critical patent/US20120318655A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US8710382B2 publication Critical patent/US8710382B2/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Adjusted expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/83Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00Legends
    • H01H2219/054Optical elements
    • H01H2219/056Diffuser; Uneven surface
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00Legends
    • H01H2219/054Optical elements
    • H01H2219/062Light conductor
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00Legends
    • H01H2219/054Optical elements
    • H01H2219/064Optical isolation of switch sites

Definitions

  • the present disclosure generally relates to keypad assemblies, particularly to a keypad assembly to be used for electronic devices.
  • a typical keypad assembly usually includes a number of buttons, a keypad, a dome sheet, a printed circuit board (PCB) and a light guiding plate.
  • the keypad includes a number of key bodies aligning with the buttons.
  • the dome sheet includes a number of elastic contacts aligning with the key bodies.
  • the PCB includes a number of fixed contacts aligning with the elastic contacts and a number of lamps.
  • the light guiding plate is mounted between the dome sheet and the keypad. The light guiding plate guides the light of the lamps to the key bodies of the keypad to illuminate the corresponding buttons.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a keypad assembly for electronic devices in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the keypad assembly of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the keypad assembly of FIG. 1 along line III-III.
  • FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a shading plate of the keypad assembly of FIG. 1 .
  • the disclosed keypad assembly may be applied in portable electronic devices such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDA) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
  • portable electronic devices such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDA)
  • PDA personal digital assistants
  • the keypad assembly being used in a mobile phone is illustrated, although the disclosure is not limited thereto.
  • the keypad assembly 100 includes a panel 10 , a plurality of buttons 20 , a keypad 30 , a dome sheet 40 , a shading plate 50 , a metal sheet 60 and a printed circuit board (PCB) 70 .
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • the panel 10 can be a portion of a housing of the electronic device, or be separately formed and then assembled to the housing.
  • the panel 10 is pressed by users, and has a plurality of patterns 11 locally formed on specific regions of an outer surface of the panel 10 for facilitating users to press the keypad assembly 100 .
  • the buttons 20 are mounted on and protrude from an inner (under) surface of the panel 10 and aligning with the corresponding patterns 11 .
  • the keypad 30 is made of light transmitting material.
  • the keypad 30 includes a board 310 and a plurality of key bodies 31 which are formed on the board 310 and arranged corresponding to the buttons 20 .
  • Each key body 31 includes a supporting portion 311 and a pressing projection 313 projecting from opposite surfaces of the board 310 .
  • Each supporting portion 311 includes an end surface 3111 facing the corresponding button 10 , and sidewalls 3113 surrounding and connecting with the end surface 3111 and the board 310 .
  • Each pressing projection 313 has a smaller shape and size than that of the corresponding supporting portion 311 , and protrudes from a central portion of the supporting portion 311 facing the dome sheet 40 .
  • the dome sheet 40 is mounted on the PCB 70 .
  • the dome sheet 40 includes a plurality of dome-shaped elastic contacts 41 .
  • the elastic contacts 41 are arranged corresponding to the key bodies 31 of the keypad 30 , and a central portion of each elastic contact 41 aligns with a pressing projection 313 .
  • the elastic contact 41 deforms and contacts the PCB 70 to trigger an input signal when pressed by the corresponding pressing projection 313 .
  • the corresponding button 20 moves towards and pushes the corresponding supporting portion 311 .
  • the corresponding pressing projection 313 moves and presses the corresponding elastic contact 41 to drive the corresponding elastic contact 41 to deform and contact the PCB 70 to trigger an input signal.
  • the elastic contact 41 rebounds to disconnect from the PCB 70 and the keypad 30 and the panel 10 also rebounds to its original state.
  • the dome sheet 40 further includes a plurality of holes 45 defined therein.
  • a light guiding layer 43 is positioned between the dome sheet 40 and the keypad 30 .
  • the light guiding layer 43 can be but not limited to being formed on a surface of the dome sheet 40 from which the elastic contacts 41 are projected by light guiding material coated on the surface of the dome sheet 40 .
  • the PCB 70 includes a plurality of lamps 71 .
  • the plurality of holes 45 of the dome sheet 40 are arranged corresponding to the lamps 71 , so the lamps 71 can pass through the corresponding holes 45 to be exposed to the light guiding layer 43 .
  • the light guiding layer 43 guides the light of the lamps 71 to be uniformly illuminated.
  • the shading plate 50 is mounted between the keypad 30 and the panel 10 , allowing the light of the lamps 71 to pass through the end surfaces 3111 of the supporting portions 313 of the key bodies 31 , while preventing the light of lamps 71 from escaping from the other areas of the keypad 30 , such as the board 310 and the sidewalls 3113 of the supporting portions 313 of the key bodies 31 .
  • the shading plate 50 has a base sheet 510 and a plurality of shading cavities 51 formed on the base sheet 510 for partially surrounding and enclosing the corresponding supporting portions 311 .
  • Each shading cavity 51 includes a bottom wall 511 , a peripheral wall 513 connecting and surrounding the bottom wall 511 and a through hole 515 defined through the bottom wall 511 .
  • the shading plate 50 has a shape and size and arrangement corresponding to that of the keypad 30 . So the base sheet 510 can be attached and shade the board 310 and the cavities 51 can substantially shade the supporting portions 311 with the bottom walls 511 surrounding and resisting against the sidewalls 3113 of the supporting portions 311 and the through hole 515 exposing corresponding end surfaces 3111 .
  • the shading plate 50 can prevent the light from escaping from undesired areas of the keypad 30 .
  • the shading sheet 20 is made of Polycarbonate (PC) material.
  • a deep-drawing process forms the shading cavity 51 .
  • the height of the peripheral wall 513 can be about 1.2 mm.
  • the metal sheet 60 is mounted between the shading plate 50 and the keypad 30 .
  • the metal sheet 60 is grounded and eliminates static electricity induced from the panel 10 to prevent the PCB 70 from damage from static electricity.
  • the metal sheet 60 includes a plurality of guiding holes 61 defined therethrough and arranged corresponding to the supporting portion 311 .
  • the metal sheet 60 has a shape and size corresponding to that of the keypad 30 , so that the metal sheet 60 can be attached on the board 310 and the supporting portion 311 can pass through the corresponding guiding hole 61 to face the corresponding button 20 .
  • the keypad assembly 100 can be but is not limited to be assembled in the following steps.
  • the metal sheet 60 is mounted to the keypad 30 .
  • the supporting portions 311 align with and pass through the corresponding guiding holes 61 of the metal sheet 60 by attaching the metal sheet 60 on the board 310 .
  • the shading plate 50 is attached on the metal sheet 60 .
  • the supporting portions 311 are partially surrounded by the corresponding shading cavities 51 , and the end surfaces 3111 of the supporting portions 311 are exposed form the corresponding through holes 515 .
  • the buttons 20 are mounted on the panel 10 .
  • the buttons 20 are protruded from an inner (under) surface of the panel 10 and are aligned with corresponding patterns 11 .
  • the composite panel 10 is mounted to the composite keypad 30 to enclose the composite keypad 30 .
  • the buttons 20 resist against the corresponding supporting portions 311 .
  • the dome sheet 40 is mounted on the PCB 70 .
  • the lamps 71 are mounted on the PCB 70 pass through the corresponding assembling holes 45 to be exposed to the light guiding layer 43 of the dome sheet 40 .
  • the keypad 30 is positioned on the dome sheet 40 , and the pressing projections 313 are aligned with a central portion of corresponding elastic contact 41 .
  • the assembled process is finished.
  • the light guiding layer 43 directs light of the lamps 71 to uniformly lighten the keypad 30 . Since the shading plate 50 shades the board 310 and most of the supporting portions 311 while allowing light to pass through the end surfaces 3111 , only the end surface 3111 permits light transmitted therethrough to arrive at the buttons 20 and illuminates the corresponding patterns 11 . Therefore, the shading plate 50 can prevent the light from escaping from undesired areas of the keypad 30 .
  • buttons 20 can be omitted and, accordingly, the key bodies 31 to directly resist against to the inner (under) surface of the panel 10 with the central portions of the key bodies 31 aligning with corresponding patterns 11 of the panel 10 .

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Abstract

A key pad assembly includes a keypad and a shading sheet. The keypad includes a board and a plurality of supporting portions formed on and protruding from the board, each supporting portion has an end surface for pressing and sidewalls surrounding and connecting to the end surface and the board. The shading plate includes a base sheet attaching to and shading the board and a plurality of shading cavities formed on the base sheet, the shading cavities surrounds and shades the corresponding supporting portions while allowing light to pass through the end surface.

Description

BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to keypad assemblies, particularly to a keypad assembly to be used for electronic devices.
2. Description of related art
A typical keypad assembly usually includes a number of buttons, a keypad, a dome sheet, a printed circuit board (PCB) and a light guiding plate. The keypad includes a number of key bodies aligning with the buttons. The dome sheet includes a number of elastic contacts aligning with the key bodies. The PCB includes a number of fixed contacts aligning with the elastic contacts and a number of lamps. The light guiding plate is mounted between the dome sheet and the keypad. The light guiding plate guides the light of the lamps to the key bodies of the keypad to illuminate the corresponding buttons.
However, in the typical keypad assembly, light easily escapes from gaps between the buttons.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Many aspects of the disclosed keypad assembly can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present keypad assembly.
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a keypad assembly for electronic devices in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the keypad assembly of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the keypad assembly of FIG. 1 along line III-III.
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a shading plate of the keypad assembly of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The disclosed keypad assembly may be applied in portable electronic devices such as mobile phones or personal digital assistants (PDA) in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the keypad assembly being used in a mobile phone is illustrated, although the disclosure is not limited thereto.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an exemplary embodiment of a keypad assembly 100 is shown. The keypad assembly 100 includes a panel 10, a plurality of buttons 20, a keypad 30, a dome sheet 40, a shading plate 50, a metal sheet 60 and a printed circuit board (PCB) 70.
The panel 10 can be a portion of a housing of the electronic device, or be separately formed and then assembled to the housing. The panel 10 is pressed by users, and has a plurality of patterns 11 locally formed on specific regions of an outer surface of the panel 10 for facilitating users to press the keypad assembly 100. The buttons 20 are mounted on and protrude from an inner (under) surface of the panel 10 and aligning with the corresponding patterns 11.
The keypad 30 is made of light transmitting material. The keypad 30 includes a board 310 and a plurality of key bodies 31 which are formed on the board 310 and arranged corresponding to the buttons 20. Each key body 31 includes a supporting portion 311 and a pressing projection 313 projecting from opposite surfaces of the board 310. Each supporting portion 311 includes an end surface 3111 facing the corresponding button 10, and sidewalls 3113 surrounding and connecting with the end surface 3111 and the board 310. Each pressing projection 313 has a smaller shape and size than that of the corresponding supporting portion 311, and protrudes from a central portion of the supporting portion 311 facing the dome sheet 40.
The dome sheet 40 is mounted on the PCB 70. The dome sheet 40 includes a plurality of dome-shaped elastic contacts 41. The elastic contacts 41 are arranged corresponding to the key bodies 31 of the keypad 30, and a central portion of each elastic contact 41 aligns with a pressing projection 313. The elastic contact 41 deforms and contacts the PCB 70 to trigger an input signal when pressed by the corresponding pressing projection 313. When a specific region of the panel 10 with a pattern 11 is pressed, the corresponding button 20 moves towards and pushes the corresponding supporting portion 311. The corresponding pressing projection 313 moves and presses the corresponding elastic contact 41 to drive the corresponding elastic contact 41 to deform and contact the PCB 70 to trigger an input signal. Then, when the force applied on the panel 10 is released, the elastic contact 41 rebounds to disconnect from the PCB 70 and the keypad 30 and the panel 10 also rebounds to its original state. The dome sheet 40 further includes a plurality of holes 45 defined therein.
A light guiding layer 43 is positioned between the dome sheet 40 and the keypad 30. The light guiding layer 43 can be but not limited to being formed on a surface of the dome sheet 40 from which the elastic contacts 41 are projected by light guiding material coated on the surface of the dome sheet 40.
The PCB 70 includes a plurality of lamps 71. The plurality of holes 45 of the dome sheet 40 are arranged corresponding to the lamps 71, so the lamps 71 can pass through the corresponding holes 45 to be exposed to the light guiding layer 43. The light guiding layer 43 guides the light of the lamps 71 to be uniformly illuminated.
Further referring to FIG. 4, the shading plate 50 is mounted between the keypad 30 and the panel 10, allowing the light of the lamps 71 to pass through the end surfaces 3111 of the supporting portions 313 of the key bodies 31, while preventing the light of lamps 71 from escaping from the other areas of the keypad 30, such as the board 310 and the sidewalls 3113 of the supporting portions 313 of the key bodies 31. The shading plate 50 has a base sheet 510 and a plurality of shading cavities 51 formed on the base sheet 510 for partially surrounding and enclosing the corresponding supporting portions 311. Each shading cavity 51 includes a bottom wall 511, a peripheral wall 513 connecting and surrounding the bottom wall 511 and a through hole 515 defined through the bottom wall 511. The shading plate 50 has a shape and size and arrangement corresponding to that of the keypad 30. So the base sheet 510 can be attached and shade the board 310 and the cavities 51 can substantially shade the supporting portions 311 with the bottom walls 511 surrounding and resisting against the sidewalls 3113 of the supporting portions 311 and the through hole 515 exposing corresponding end surfaces 3111. When the light of the lamps 71 is transmitted to the supporting portion 311, the board 310 and most of the supporting portions 311 are shaded by the shading plate 50, so only the end surface 3111 permits light transmitted therethrough to arrive to the buttons 20 and illuminate the corresponding patterns 11. Therefore, the shading plate 50 can prevent the light from escaping from undesired areas of the keypad 30.
In the exemplary embodiment, the shading sheet 20 is made of Polycarbonate (PC) material. A deep-drawing process forms the shading cavity 51. The height of the peripheral wall 513 can be about 1.2 mm.
The metal sheet 60 is mounted between the shading plate 50 and the keypad 30. The metal sheet 60 is grounded and eliminates static electricity induced from the panel 10 to prevent the PCB 70 from damage from static electricity. The metal sheet 60 includes a plurality of guiding holes 61 defined therethrough and arranged corresponding to the supporting portion 311. The metal sheet 60 has a shape and size corresponding to that of the keypad 30, so that the metal sheet 60 can be attached on the board 310 and the supporting portion 311 can pass through the corresponding guiding hole 61 to face the corresponding button 20.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the keypad assembly 100 can be but is not limited to be assembled in the following steps. First, the metal sheet 60 is mounted to the keypad 30. The supporting portions 311 align with and pass through the corresponding guiding holes 61 of the metal sheet 60 by attaching the metal sheet 60 on the board 310. Then, the shading plate 50 is attached on the metal sheet 60. The supporting portions 311 are partially surrounded by the corresponding shading cavities 51, and the end surfaces 3111 of the supporting portions 311 are exposed form the corresponding through holes 515. In the next step, the buttons 20 are mounted on the panel 10. The buttons 20 are protruded from an inner (under) surface of the panel 10 and are aligned with corresponding patterns 11. Then, the composite panel 10 is mounted to the composite keypad 30 to enclose the composite keypad 30. The buttons 20 resist against the corresponding supporting portions 311. After that, the dome sheet 40 is mounted on the PCB 70. The lamps 71 are mounted on the PCB 70 pass through the corresponding assembling holes 45 to be exposed to the light guiding layer 43 of the dome sheet 40. Then, the keypad 30 is positioned on the dome sheet 40, and the pressing projections 313 are aligned with a central portion of corresponding elastic contact 41. The assembled process is finished.
In use, the light guiding layer 43 directs light of the lamps 71 to uniformly lighten the keypad 30. Since the shading plate 50 shades the board 310 and most of the supporting portions 311 while allowing light to pass through the end surfaces 3111, only the end surface 3111 permits light transmitted therethrough to arrive at the buttons 20 and illuminates the corresponding patterns 11. Therefore, the shading plate 50 can prevent the light from escaping from undesired areas of the keypad 30.
It is to be understood that, the buttons 20 can be omitted and, accordingly, the key bodies 31 to directly resist against to the inner (under) surface of the panel 10 with the central portions of the key bodies 31 aligning with corresponding patterns 11 of the panel 10.
It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of assembly and function, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (18)

What is claimed is:
1. A keypad assembly comprising:
a keypad comprising a board and a plurality of supporting portions formed on and protruding from the board, each supporting portion having an end surface configured for being pressed and sidewalls surrounding and connecting to the end surface and the board; and
a shading plate comprising a base sheet attaching to and shading the board and a plurality of shading cavities formed on the base sheet, the shading cavities surrounding and shading the corresponding supporting portions while allowing light to pass through the end surface;
wherein each shading cavity has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall surrounding the bottom wall and a through hole defined through the bottom wall; the peripheral wall connects the bottom wall with the base sheet, the bottom wall is positioned at a height that is different from the height of the base sheet; the bottom wall surrounds and resists against the sidewalls of the supporting portion and the through hole exposes the corresponding end surface.
2. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height of the peripheral wall is about 1.2 millimeters.
3. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shading cavity is formed by deep-drawing process.
4. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shading plate is made of polycarbonate material.
5. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) and a dome sheet mounted on the PCB, wherein the dome sheet comprises a plurality of elastic contacts having dome shapes, the elastic contacts are arranged corresponding to the key bodies of the keypad, each key body has a pressing projection projecting toward and aligning with a central portion of the corresponding elastic contact.
6. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a plurality of lamps mounted on the PCB, wherein the dome sheet further comprises a plurality of holes defined therein and arranged corresponding to the lamps, the lamps pass through the corresponding holes to be exposed to the surface of the dome sheet.
7. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a light guiding layer formed on a surface of the dome sheet from which the elastic contacts being projected by light guiding material coated on the surface of the dome sheet.
8. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a metal sheet mounted between the keypad and the shading plate, wherein the metal sheet is grounded to eliminate static electricity induced from the keypad assembly.
9. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of buttons and a panel having a plurality of patterns locally formed on specific regions of an outer surface of the panel for facilitating users to press the keypad assembly, wherein the buttons are mounted on and protrude from an inner surface of the panel aligning with the corresponding patterns.
10. A portable electronic device incorporated with a keypad assembly, the keypad assembly comprising:
a plurality of buttons;
a keypad comprising a board and a plurality of supporting portions formed on and protrude from the board and arranged corresponding to the buttons, each supporting portion having an end surface configured for being pressed by the corresponding button and sidewalls surrounding and connecting to the end surface and the board; and
a shading plate comprising a base sheet attaching to and shading the board and a plurality of shading cavities formed on the base sheet, the shading cavities surrounding and shading corresponding supporting portions while allowing light to pass through the end surface;
wherein each shading cavity has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall surrounding the bottom wall and a through hole defined through the bottom wall; the peripheral wall connects the bottom wall with the base sheet, the bottom wall is positioned at a height that is different from the height of the base sheet; the bottom wall surrounds and resists against the sidewalls of the supporting portion and the through hole exposes the corresponding end surface.
11. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the height of the peripheral wall is about 1.2 millimeters.
12. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shading cavity is formed by deep-drawing process.
13. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shading plate is made of polycarbonate material.
14. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) and a dome sheet mounted on the PCB, wherein the dome sheet comprises a plurality of elastic contacts having dome shapes, the elastic contacts are arranged corresponding to the key bodies of the keypad, each key body has a pressing projection projecting toward and aligning with a central portion of the corresponding elastic contact.
15. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a plurality of lamps mounted on the PCB, wherein the dome sheet further comprises a plurality of holes defined therein and arranged corresponding to the lamps, the lamps pass through the corresponding holes to be exposed to the surface of the dome sheet.
16. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a light guiding layer formed on a surface of the dome sheet from which the elastic contacts being projected by light guiding material coated on the surface of the dome sheet.
17. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a metal sheet mounted between the keypad and the shading plate, wherein the metal sheet is grounded to eliminate static electricity induced from the keypad assembly.
18. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a panel having a plurality of patterns locally formed on specific regions of an outer surface of the panel for facilitating users to press the keypad assembly, wherein the buttons are mounted on and protrude from an inner surface of the panel aligning with the corresponding patterns.
US13/223,274 2011-06-20 2011-08-31 Keypad assembly for electronic devices Expired - Fee Related US8710382B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201110165781.6 2011-06-20
CN201110165781 2011-06-20
CN2011101657816A CN102842452A (en) 2011-06-20 2011-06-20 Button assembly

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20120318655A1 US20120318655A1 (en) 2012-12-20
US8710382B2 true US8710382B2 (en) 2014-04-29

Family

ID=47352807

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/223,274 Expired - Fee Related US8710382B2 (en) 2011-06-20 2011-08-31 Keypad assembly for electronic devices

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US8710382B2 (en)
CN (1) CN102842452A (en)
TW (1) TW201301326A (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170238431A1 (en) * 2016-02-12 2017-08-17 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Key device of electronic device

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3929954A1 (en) 2015-04-20 2021-12-29 Lutron Technology Company LLC Control devices having independently suspended buttons for controlled actuation
CN110794505B (en) * 2018-08-01 2020-11-17 光宝电子(广州)有限公司 Light guide plate and input device
TWI712061B (en) * 2019-07-08 2020-12-01 李以圍 Improved switch structure
CN117524772B (en) * 2024-01-05 2024-04-12 深圳市迈迪杰电子科技有限公司 Backlight assembly of notebook keyboard

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070272534A1 (en) * 2004-04-05 2007-11-29 Yuichi Iohara Key Unit With Reinforcing Plate
US20080283375A1 (en) * 2004-05-07 2008-11-20 Yuichi Iohara Key Unit with Support Frame
US20100018848A1 (en) * 2008-07-23 2010-01-28 Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Keypad assembly
US20100326807A1 (en) * 2006-12-31 2010-12-30 Zhaokan Zhu Light guide plate, light guide key plate and method for manufacturing the light guide key plate
US20110024277A1 (en) * 2009-07-31 2011-02-03 Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Keypad assembly for electronic devices

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2010118282A (en) * 2008-11-14 2010-05-27 Shin Etsu Polymer Co Ltd Cover member for lighted push-button switch and method of manufacturing the same
CN201387827Y (en) * 2009-02-18 2010-01-20 青岛海信移动通信技术股份有限公司 Key support film and key component of portable mobile terminal

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070272534A1 (en) * 2004-04-05 2007-11-29 Yuichi Iohara Key Unit With Reinforcing Plate
US20080283375A1 (en) * 2004-05-07 2008-11-20 Yuichi Iohara Key Unit with Support Frame
US20100326807A1 (en) * 2006-12-31 2010-12-30 Zhaokan Zhu Light guide plate, light guide key plate and method for manufacturing the light guide key plate
US20100018848A1 (en) * 2008-07-23 2010-01-28 Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Keypad assembly
US20110024277A1 (en) * 2009-07-31 2011-02-03 Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Keypad assembly for electronic devices

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170238431A1 (en) * 2016-02-12 2017-08-17 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Key device of electronic device
US10602627B2 (en) * 2016-02-12 2020-03-24 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Key device of electronic device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20120318655A1 (en) 2012-12-20
CN102842452A (en) 2012-12-26
TW201301326A (en) 2013-01-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9450631B2 (en) Case for a hand held device
US8063325B2 (en) Keypad assembly
US7455416B2 (en) Light guide structure and keypad having the same
US8710382B2 (en) Keypad assembly for electronic devices
US8253046B2 (en) Keypad assembly for electronic devices
JP2010045036A (en) Keypad device and mobile terminal
JP2006324253A (en) Keypad device and mobile terminal
JP2001155576A (en) Member for illuminated push button switch
US20100264005A1 (en) Keypad assembly and portable electronic device using same
US20070151838A1 (en) Electronic device keypad
US20070275751A1 (en) Faceplate having keys for mobile phone
US20060097035A1 (en) Size effective keypad switching and backlighting scheme
JPH10276249A (en) Portable telephone set
KR101092179B1 (en) Dome sheet structure unified light guide fiml and mobilecommunication terminal with the same
CN211376471U (en) Electronic device
US20100102996A1 (en) Dome array device and a key structure with the dome array device
KR20050085248A (en) Input device, especially for a mobile telephone, module comprising an input device, mobile telephone and method for the production thereof
KR100851657B1 (en) The key panel of planer light wave circuit sheet having a actuator
US20060188091A1 (en) Portable electronic device with a keyboard mechanism
US20120222946A1 (en) Key Module, Keyboard and Electric Device
CN102136386B (en) Key component and portable electronic device with key component
CN108807058B (en) Push-button
JP4545693B2 (en) Portable electronic devices
KR19980024783U (en) Communication device
JP2006210174A (en) Operation key unit

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED, HONG KONG

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HUANG, XIAN-WU;REEL/FRAME:026841/0354

Effective date: 20110831

Owner name: SHENZHEN FUTAIHONG PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., C

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HUANG, XIAN-WU;REEL/FRAME:026841/0354

Effective date: 20110831

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 4TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1551)

Year of fee payment: 4

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20220429